Chick brooder



Nov. 2'7 1928. 1,693,049

E. M. PIERCE CHICK BROODER Filed June'27. 192'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PMpzawam Nev, 27, .1928.

E. M. PIERCE CHICK BROODER Filed June 2'7, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 21'11,1urn/11111111111111!!! 61cm nap Patented ov; 27, 1928;

UNITED'SFTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ESTA M. PIERCE, OF BOWLING GIR EEN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOWLING GREENPOUL TRY SUPPLY COMPANY, OF BOWLING GREEN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO-cnrox BROODER.

Application filed June 27, 1927. Serial No 201,849.

This invention relates to chick brooders, and an object of thisinvention is to produce a new and improved brooder equipped withtemperature controlled regulating means for maintaining the temperatureat a predetermined degree within the brooder chamber,

and for providing adequate ventilation to eliminate the liability offoul and impure air within the chamber, thereby to enhance the healthycondition of the chicks. Other objects and advantages will hereinafterappear.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the brooder chamber and the meansfor maintaining the temperature within the chamber substantiallyconstant Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line-2-2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3is a front view in elevation of a portion of a chick receivin sectionand Fi 4 is aers ective view of one of the compartments or drawers forthe chicks.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a brooder chamber1 in which is positioned the chick-receiving section 2.

The sections are made up of tiers of trays or compartments 3 to recelvethe chicks, each tray having wire mesh sides 4 and bottom 5.-

a0 Disposed beneath each tray 3 is a pan 6 to receive the droppings orrefuse matter. As the detail construction of the sections forms no partof the present invention, further description is deemed unnecessary;

tions are electrically driven fans 7 supported by a suitable cage 8suspended from the top wall of the compartment by supports 9. The motorfor operating the fans 7 may be of the selective speed type and manuallycontrolled by an operating lever 10. As shown in Fig. 2, any number offans 7 may be employed to maintain adequate circulation and ventilationinside the chamber. The fans are preferably positioned intermediate theseparate chick receiving sections so that an indirect draft is afiordedwithin the chamber and to prevent a direct draft on the chicks.

Extending transversely across the u per portion of the chamber 1 anddisposed a ove the fans 7 is a series of heating coils 11 which may besupplied with steam vapor from a furnace 12, the inlet from the inletduct 13 for the coils 11 leading from the upper. portion Disposed aboveand at one side of the sec- 7 11 areheated, the damper 16'may be openedso that warm pure air may be supplied to the. inside of the chamber.

Spaced from each inlet vent 15 is an air outlet vent 17 for foul orimpure air, and, as shown, this vent is above. a chick-receivingsection. It is to be understood that a set of air inlet and outlet ventsmay be provided for each chick-receiving section. Within the outlet pipe17 is a damper 18 having an arm 19 for operating the same.

Mounted on the side wall of the chamber 1 is a thermostat 21 whichoperates at predetermined temperature limits to energize ,a motor 23 towhich it is connected by wires 22. The motor 23 has arms 24 and 25extending in opposite directions, and each time the motor is energizedthe arms 24 and 25'are moved through an arc of 180.

The arm 24 is connected by a cable 26 which is guided by suitablesheaves to a weighted arm 19 of the damper 18, the arm 19 extending inan opposite direction from the arm 24. The other arm 25 of the motor 23is connected 4 by a cable 27 also guided by suitable sheaves to aWeighted arm. 20 of the damper 16, the arm 20 extending in a directionopposite from the arm 25. I

Also leading from the arm 25 is a cable 30 suitably guided by sheaves,and this cable is connected to the outer end of a weighted le- .ver arm29. The arm 29 is connected to a valve 28 which controls the passage ofsteam through the inlet duct 13. Normally, the valve 28 is held open bythe weighted lever 29.

When the thermostat 21 operates to energize the motor 23, it is apparentthat the ampers 16 and 18 are concomitantly opened to allow the fan 7 todraw in fresh air through the vent 15 and expel foul air from thechamber through the vent 17. The arm 19 is lifts ed by the cable 26, butthe cable 27 is slacked to permit the welghted arm 20 to turn the Idamper 16 to open position.- At the same time that the dampers 16 and 18are opened is controlled by a vaporstat 40 connected by a the cable 30is released to permit the weighted arm 29 to close the valve 28, therebyshutting ofi the steam supply to the coils 11.

- After the chamber 1 has become sufliciently cool, the thermostat 21again energizes the moton 23. The cable 26 is thereby slacked to allowthe weighted arm 19 to turn the damper 18 to closed position, and thecable 27 is lifted to move the damper 16 to closed position.

It is manifest that the'temperature Within the chick chamber 1 ismaintained substantially constant, and the foulgair is expelledconstantly by permanent valves and that the interior of the chamberisfilled with pure warm air at all times. Because of the position of thefans 7 there is no liability of a direct draft on the chicks, and theinlet and outlet vents are so arranged that the most eflicientventilation is maintained.

For automatically controlling the operation of the furnace 12, the usualcheck gate 31 is hingedly connected to the outlet pipe 32 of the furnaceand the usual upwardly swinging ate 33 is mounted on the lower door 34of the urnace. The gate 33 is connected by a cable 35 to an arm 36 of anelectric motor 37, and the check 31 is connected by a cable 38 to an arm39 of the motor 37, these cables being guided by suitable sheaves in theusual manner. The arms 36 and 39 extend in opposite directions and themotor 37 operates similar to motor 23 above described. The motor 37 tube41 to the steam chamber of the furnace, and is also connected by leads42 to the motor 37.

I The vaporstat 40 of well known construction, energizes the motor 37 atpredetermined periods to provide uniform operation of the furnace. Whenthere is suflicient vapor in the steam chamber, the gate 33 is ielosedand the gate 31 is opened, but should the steam fall below therequirements, the gate 33 is automatically opened and the gate 31 isclosed to enable the furnace to operate more intensely.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention, it isto be understood that numerous changes-in details of construction,arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from thespirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is 1. Abrooder having a closed chamber, air

inlet and outlet vents for said chamber, a fan in the region of saidinlet vent for drawing air into said chamber and maintaining circalationtherein, heating meansadjacent said inlet vent, means controlling theoperation of said heating means, valves controlling said vents, andmeans common'to said valves and said cont-rolling means forautomatically operating the same in accordance with the temperatureconditions within the chamber.

2. A brooder having a closed chamber, air inlet and outlet vents forsaid chambeivalves controlling said vents, a fan in the region of saidinlet-vent for drawing air into said chamber and maintaining circulationtherein, heating pipes adjacent said inlet vent, a valve controlling thepassage of fluid through said pipes, and means common to said valves forautomatically operating the same in accordance with the temperatureconditions within the chamber.

3. A brooder having a closed chamber, air inlet and outlet vents forsaid chamber, valves controlling said vents, a fan in the region of saidinlet vent for drawing air into said cham- 1 trolling the passage offluid through said.

pipes, and means including an electric motor, common to said valves forautomatically operating the same in accordance with the tem-v peratureconditions Within the chamber.

4. A brooder having a closedchamber, a chick-receiving compartmentwithin said chamber, a fan in the upper portion of the.

chamber at one side of said compartment, heating coils above said fan, aweighted valve controlling the admission of fluid to said coils, aninlet passage above said coils for supplying fresh air to thecompartment, a damper controlling said passage, an outlet passage in theupper portion of said chamber, a-damper controlling said passage, athermostat within said chambe'r,an electric motor operatively connectedto said thermostat, arms on said motor, connectlons between sald arms,dampers and weighted valve whereby the thermo stat energizes said motorto simultaneously effect an opening of said dampers and closing of saidvalve or closing of said dampers and opening of said valve in accordancewith the temperature changes within said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

ESTA M. PIERCE.

